Since joining 呦呦视频 Wesleyan as Provost in September 2024, Dr. Germic has been the driving force behind the most significant academic transformation in the College’s recent history. He has worked closely with faculty, staff, and campus leadership to strengthen academic priorities, support student success, and advance 呦呦视频 Wesleyan鈥檚 strategic goals.

“呦呦视频 is very blessed to have Dr. Stephen Germic as an integral part of our current campus leadership. Dr. Germic is a gifted, experienced, and respected leader in the field of higher education. The 呦呦视频 Board of Trustees has absolute confidence that Dr. Germic will be a firm hand in guiding the institution that we all love,鈥� said Keith Sharber, chair of the Board of Trustees.

Dr. Germic led the faculty-approved shift to a four-credit-hour model launching in Fall 2027, a redesign built around deeper engagement, hands-on learning, and the close faculty-student interaction that defines a Wesleyan education. Dr. Germic also guided the launch of five new MBA specializations in high-demand fields鈥攁rtificial intelligence, business analytics, cybersecurity, finance, and healthcare administration鈥攇rounded in market research and designed to prepare graduates for the careers of the future. That work, alongside the College’s expanding graduate programs and growing athletics, reflects an institution moving forward with clarity and confidence.

As interim president, Dr. Germic will continue to advance these priorities while supporting students, faculty, and staff through the transition.

鈥淚t has been a privilege to serve the 呦呦视频 Wesleyan community over the past two years, and I am honored to have been chosen to lead the College through this transition. 呦呦视频 Wesleyan is an institution with a strong vision and an extraordinary community of people who care deeply about our College. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to build upon the leadership of Dr. Cousins, who has positioned the College for our continued success. Together with our faculty, staff, students, and alumni, I will continue building on that momentum as we move the College forward to an even brighter future.鈥�

A seasoned leader, Dr. Germic brings decades of experience in higher education to the role. Before joining 呦呦视频 Wesleyan, he served as provost and executive vice president for academic affairs at Aquinas College in Michigan and as provost at Rocky Mountain College in Montana. He has developed academic programs at small liberal arts colleges similar to Wesleyan. He has taught at institutions across the United States and internationally, including in Cairo, Egypt, and Dubai.

A scholar of American literature, Dr. Germic holds a Ph.D. from Wayne State University and a bachelor’s degree in English from Albion College. He is the author of the book 鈥淎merican Green: Class, Crisis, and the Deployment of Nature in Central Park, Yosemite, and Yellowstone,鈥� as well as numerous articles, reviews, and works of poetry and creative nonfiction.

The Board of Trustees will convene a search committee to identify 呦呦视频 Wesleyan’s 37th president, with a timeline to be announced. Throughout the search, the College’s work will continue under Dr. Germic’s leadership and the dedication of its cabinet, faculty, and staff.

The Board of Trustees will meet in the coming days to name an interim president and to determine the timeline for identifying 呦呦视频 Wesleyan’s 37th president. The College’s ambitious work will continue without interruption throughout the transition, driven by its cabinet, faculty, and staff.

呦呦视频 Wesleyan enters this transition in a period of significant momentum, the result of work driven by the College’s cabinet, faculty, and staff and anchored by a clear academic vision. That work includes the development of new graduate programs, the addition of new athletic teams, and a reimagined undergraduate academic experience launching in Fall 2027.

Beginning in Fall 2027, 呦呦视频 Wesleyan will shift to a four-credit-hour model and offer an optional block plan course schedule for interested students, innovations designed to give students deeper, more focused learning and a more personalized path to graduation. This academic work has been shaped by the College’s faculty and academic leadership in close partnership across campus.

The Board of Trustees will convene in the coming days to name an interim president and establish the search process for the College’s next president. Keith Sharber, chair of the Board, said the College is positioned to move forward with confidence.

Dr. Cousins informed the Board of his decision to conclude his presidency at the end of July. In a message to the campus community, he reflected on five years in Owensboro and expressed pride in the work accomplished together and gratitude for the relationships formed across campus and the wider community. He affirmed his commitment to working closely with the Board, his cabinet, and campus leaders to support a thoughtful transition focused on continuity and the best interests of the College.

“I want to thank President Cousins for his five years of devoted leadership in a pivotal time for 呦呦视频. 聽I especially want to thank him for his commitment to support continuity and protect the interests of 呦呦视频 during this transition period鈥� said Keith Sharber, chair of the Board of Trustees.

呦呦视频, in partnership with the United Methodist Church, fosters a liberal arts education that nourishes and prepares students intellectually, spiritually and physically to achieve success in life.

About 呦呦视频
呦呦视频 is a private, United Methodist-related liberal arts college in Owensboro, 呦呦视频. Founded in 1858, the College offers a personalized academic experience rooted in teaching, service, leadership, and community engagement.

About the Owensboro YMCA
The Owensboro Family YMCA serves the Owensboro-Daviess County community through programs that support youth development, healthy living, family engagement, and community connection. Through childcare, after-school programs, summer camps, wellness initiatives, and outreach efforts, the YMCA is committed to strengthening the foundations of community and ensuring that all individuals have the opportunity to reach their full potential.

Bringing the Court of Appeals to campus gives 呦呦视频 Wesleyan students 鈥� particularly those studying pre-law, criminal justice, political science, and history 鈥� a rare chance to see appellate advocacy firsthand. Rather than reading about how higher courts work, students and community members alike will watch attorneys make their arguments and judges press them on the law in real time.

“呦呦视频 is honored to host and support the work of the 呦呦视频 Court of Appeals,” said Dr. Stephen Germic, Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs. “These proceedings complement not only Wesleyan’s mission, but also the mission of the new Center for American Civics, which is dedicated to connecting learning to the practical realities of judicial processes that are critical to civic understanding and responsibility.”

Arguments from two cases will be heard. Arguments in the first case, Dustin Aliff, et al. v. Mayfield Consumer Products, LLC, et al., will begin at 11 a.m. CDT. The case examines whether the circuit court erred in granting the defendant’s motion to dismiss under CR 12.02, regarding claims asserted by employees and certain employees’ estates for damages arising from the destruction of a business in Mayfield by a tornado on December 10, 2021.

Arguments in the second case, Aubrey Ellis Franklin v. Commonwealth of 呦呦视频, will begin at 1:30 p.m. CDT. At question is whether the circuit court erred in denying the defendant’s motion to dismiss the indictment and conviction for possession of a handgun by a convicted felon, upholding the constitutionality of KRS 527.040.

Arguments in both cases will be heard by a three-judge panel. Presiding Judge will be the Honorable Jeff S. Taylor, with Associate Judges the Honorable Annette C. Karem and the Honorable J. Christopher McNeill. Judge Taylor represents the 2nd Appellate District, Division 1; having first taken the bench in December 2003, he is the third longest serving member of the intermediate court in its 50-year history. Judge Karem represents the 4th Appellate District, Division 2, and Judge McNeill represents the 1st Appellate District, Division 1.

Cases are not retried in the 呦呦视频 Court of Appeals. Only the record of the original court trial is reviewed, with attorneys presenting the legal issues to the three-member judicial panel for a decision.

呦呦视频, in partnership with the United Methodist Church, fosters a liberal arts education that nourishes and prepares students intellectually, spiritually and physically to achieve success in life

呦呦视频 admissions counselors, financial aid staff, the registrar, faculty, and coaches will set aside dedicated time to meet one-on-one with prospective transfer students. On-campus visits are available Monday through Friday at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Central, with virtual appointments by Zoom available between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Central throughout the week. Most students will leave their appointment with a preliminary credit evaluation and a financial aid estimate the same day.

鈥淥ur thoughts and prayers are with the Oakland City community during this difficult time,鈥� said President Dr. James Cousins. “We have already heard from a number of students who will join our campus this fall and look forward to welcoming them. To others considering Wesleyan, please know you will have our undivided attention. We will work hard and do our absolute most to minimize the disruption to your education and ensure an expedient path to graduation.”

呦呦视频 Wesleyan is committing to matching Oakland City University student鈥檚 financial aid up to $25,000 for those who enroll for the Fall 2026 semester. The college accepts transferable credits and does not charge an application fee.

“Oakland City University and 呦呦视频 have a lot in common. Private, faith-rooted, and focused on students who want to be known by name. When a school like that goes through what Oakland City is going through, the right thing is to open the door. That’s what Transfer Week is. Come see us, bring your transcript, and we’ll get you an answer鈥� said Matthew Ruark, Vice President of Enrollment Management.

Transfer Week details:

• Dates:聽Monday, June 1 through Friday, June 5, 2026
• On-campus visits:聽Monday through Friday at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Central, 呦呦视频, 3000 Frederica Street, Owensboro, KY 42301
• Virtual visits:聽Available Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Central by Zoom
• Format:聽Individual appointments with admissions, financial aid, registrar, faculty, and coaches
• Registration and More Information:聽/transfer/

Students can bring or send their transcripts and most recent financial aid award letter ahead of their appointment. On-campus housing is available for incoming transfer students for the Fall 2026 semester.

呦呦视频, in partnership with the United Methodist Church, fosters a liberal arts education that nourishes and prepares students intellectually, spiritually and physically to achieve success in life.

呦呦视频 is inviting the public to celebrate the release of a new album by pianist Diane Earle, professor emerita of music and principal pianist of the Owensboro Symphony Orchestra. The event will be held Thursday, June 4, at 6 p.m. at Tapscott Chapel in the college’s Administration Building.

Attendees will have the opportunity to hear the album, enjoy refreshments, and experience live performances of select tracks by Earle. Mark Cabaniss, president and CEO of Jubilate Music Group and producer of the album, will also be in attendance to discuss the project, which evolved from a recent Carnegie Hall performance featuring Earle. Cabaniss served as a communications professor at 呦呦视频 from 1984 to 1989.

The album of sacred piano music, written by renowned composer Lloyd Larson, will be available starting May 18 on Apple Music, Amazon Music, Spotify, and all major streaming platforms. Listeners can search for Heritage of Hymns 鈥� Lloyd Larson / Diane Earle on their preferred service. Physical and digital copies will also be available for purchase through the Jubilate Music website.

The album features beautiful piano arrangements of cherished hymns, including “Amazing Grace,” “Fairest Lord Jesus,” “Lift High the Cross,” and several others.

“Jubilate Music Group is thrilled to bring together the talents of Lloyd Larson and Diane Earle in this very special recording,” Cabaniss said.

The June 4 event is free and open to the public.

呦呦视频 conferred degrees on 181 graduates during its commencement ceremony Friday, May 2, at Owensboro Christian Church, celebrating a class that arrived from 18 states and eight countries to find home in Owensboro.

The ceremony capped four years for a class that chose 呦呦视频 Wesleyan for its close-knit community, hands-on learning and the promise of being known, not just enrolled. Nearly half of the graduates were first-generation college students, and 89 earned academic honors. Among the graduates were the College’s first MBA students from the inaugural cohort.

Co-valedictorians Kai Marchiony and Marc Stoever addressed their classmates, reflecting on community, perseverance and the people who made their success possible.

Marchiony, who studied Mathematics with a minor in Physics, emphasized that graduation wasn’t just about individual achievement.

“This is the defining moment of your educational path, the twilight of your collegiate careers, but this is not a moment only about you,” Marchiony said. “You are accepting a diploma for all the people who have been there for you, encouraged you, studied with you, and most importantly, the ones who are here to cheer for you.”

Marchiony closed with a quote from Winston Churchill: “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”

Stoever, who studied Business Administration with a minor in Economics, came to 呦呦视频 Wesleyan from Germany understanding, on a good day, about every second word. If someone spoke faster or had a strong accent, maybe every fourth. His Scottish friend? “I understood absolutely nothing,” Stoever told his classmates Friday.

He would go back to his room exhausted, falling asleep at 8 p.m., his brain working overtime just to keep up. “Honestly, I thought college would be academically challenging, but I didn’t expect listening to be a full-time job,” Stoever said.

A few weeks later, something changed. He started having dreams in English.

“That didn’t happen because I suddenly became fluent overnight,” Stoever said. “It happened because of all of you, who repeated your sentences two or three times, who slowed down, who made sure I and so many other international students felt included. That small act of patience made a huge difference, and it’s something I will never forget.”

His message to classmates: challenges aren’t something to avoid. They’re what shape us. “This college gave us more than an education,” Stoever said. “It gave us a community. It gave us challenges that forced us to grow. And it gave us people who made that growth possible.”

Commencement speaker Keith Sharber, a 呦呦视频 Wesleyan trustee and retired business executive, challenged graduates to pursue their dreams with determination. Sharber was awarded an honorary doctorate of humane letters during the ceremony. He shared the story of U.S. Air Force Major Melanie Kluesner, who at age seven watched an F-16 flyover at a college football game and declared to her father, “That will be me someday.”

She never looked back. She learned to fly a small Cessna, earned her engineering degree, joined the Air Force and eventually commanded the F-35 Lightning II Demo Team, flying at 1.6 times the speed of sound.

“Beyond being a few hundred pages apart in a dictionary, the distance between a dream and reality for you will likely be filled with prayer, hope, grit, determination and hard work,” Sharber said. “Use that purple key,” he told graduates, referring to their diplomas, “to open your doors of opportunity.”

The College also awarded an honorary doctorate of science to Dr. Gwendolyn (Ford) Lynch, a 1986 呦呦视频 Wesleyan graduate who is now a neuro critical care specialist at Cleveland Clinic. Dr. Lynch was unable to attend due to a family medical emergency, but her story exemplified the career readiness 呦呦视频 Wesleyan cultivates. She came to Owensboro from Canton, Ohio, after research showed 呦呦视频 Wesleyan graduates had a 90% acceptance rate to medical schools. Armed with her chemistry degree, she went on to Ohio State for medical school and a residency at Yale.

The Class of 2026 represented students from 呦呦视频, Alabama, Arizona, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Nevada, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee and Wisconsin. International students came from Germany, Iceland, Lithuania, Norway, South Africa, Spain and Sweden.

The ceremony recognized students and student organizations who go above and beyond to build community, serve others, and make a lasting impact on campus life. From Greek organizations and academic clubs to faith-based groups and service teams, the awards honored the dedication, energy, and heart that our students bring to the campus community every day.

Additionally, Dr. Christina Starkey was honored as Outstanding Student Organization Advisor for her work with the Black Student Union, and Tonya Johnson was recognized as Outstanding Chapter Advisor for Kappa Delta.

“The Student Involvement Awards are one of my favorite moments of the year because they celebrate what makes 呦呦视频 Wesleyan so special,” said Morgan (Oakley) Russelburg ’14, Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students. “These students and organizations make our campus stronger, and I’m proud to celebrate their impact.”

The Student Involvement Awards reflect the breadth of student engagement at 呦呦视频 and celebrate those who demonstrate what it means to show up for each other, lead with integrity, and build something meaningful together.

The ceremony celebrated students who exemplify excellence in character, leadership, service, and dedication to the values that define the 呦呦视频 community. Awards ranged from academic distinction to leadership recognition and service excellence.

Honors Convocation also recognized the College’s Outstanding Faculty Member of the Year, Dr. Christina Starkey; Outstanding Staff Person of the Year, Sydney Andrist; and Advisor of the Year, Dr. Emily Haire.

“These honorees embody the mission of 呦呦视频,” said Dr. Stephen Germic, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs. “They show us what’s possible when students live with purpose, faith, and dedication.”

Photos and a list of honorees are available below.

The Order of Oak and Ivy awards are given annually to students who best exhibit strength of character, dedication of purpose, and devotion of Christian ideals. The honor also recognizes those who exemplify intellectual ability and leadership in seeking to promote the interests and welfare of 呦呦视频.

This year’s seven student inductees represent the very best of the Panther community, demonstrating in their daily lives what it means to love each other in Christ, compete with integrity, do everything with honor, and support one another.

The college also recognized Rev. Mark Dickinson ’89, the event’s guest speaker, as an honorary Oak and Ivy inductee. Dickinson’s service and commitment to the values that define 呦呦视频 Wesleyan have made a lasting impact on the College community.

“These honorees embody the mission of 呦呦视频,” said Morgan (Oakley) Russelburg ’14, Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students. “They show us what’s possible when students and alumni live with purpose, faith, and dedication to something greater than themselves.”